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Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO), is one of the most talented German conductors of his generation. His dynamic performances have won praise from the international press: '[the] performance’s sophistication and sensuality comes from the pit’ (LA Times, 2007); ‘the orchestra sparkles and glows under the heated conducting of Sebastian Lang-Lessing. Viva Carmen!’ (Houston Press, 2006); ‘it was Lang-Lessing, in his company debut, who steered Tuesday’s opening to its greatest moments of success’ (San Francisco Times, 2005).

Awarded the Ferenc Fricsay Prize in Berlin at the age of 24, he subsequently took up a conducting post at the Hamburg State Opera, was appointed resident conductor at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. And later Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy. Under his direction, the Opéra de Nancy was elevated o national status becoming the Opéra national de Lorraine.

His international career started at the Opéra Bastille de Paris, followed by engagements at Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Colorado Opera Denver, Opéra de Bordeaux, Hamburg State Opera, and the Opera houses in Oslo and Stockholm.

Sebastian Lang-Lessing conducted his highly regarded come-back at Deutsche Oper Berlin with “Rienzi” in January 2010. And will conduct a new production of “Rosenkavalier” during the World Cup this year at Cape Town Opera.

Concert engagements include performances with Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National de Bordeaux, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, major German Radio Orchestras, orchestras in Australia. The young Maestro inaugurated the TSO's annual Sydney season and led his orchestra on a tour to Japan.

Sebastian Lang-Lessing’s discography includes the complete symphonies of Mendelssohn with DVD with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (ABC Classics). He rediscovered the French composer Guy Ropartz, and started a complete recording of his symphonies with the Orchestre Symphonique de Nancy with great acclaim of the international press; the four Schumann symphonies, music by Saint-Saëns, Franck, Ravel, Brett Dean and a recording of Romantic Overtures. Forthcoming recordings include Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites, Mozart symphonies, Mendelssohn and Ravel piano concertos with soloist Kirilll Gerstein.

January 2010